Google Pixel Vs iPhone 7: The War of Flagships

Google Pixel and Apple iPhone 7 are the smartphones which are being much talked about. In this article, we have tried to put the two phones side-by-side for a brief comparison in terms of their specifications.

A synonym to the word creativity is Google. We know Google is there for us. From a simple search to checking emails, watching videos on YouTube, downloading apps from the Play Store, etc.The first thing that comes to our mind when we think of Apple is the iPhone and it’s a status symbol. People often say, “Hey, I bought a new iPhone”. That same feeling isn’t present in the case of any other brand, not even Google. We can see hundreds of Apple fans standing in line for days. They might look insane but they’re proving their loyalty to their brand.

Google has brought Pixel to reality after months of speculations and a number of leaks and rumors. Google had the Nexus family but Pixel’s entry in the market makes Google a hardware manufacturer also. The phone has received a positive response and many people are placing it beside the recently launchedApple iPhone 7. The comparison is obvious, as the two smartphones are an important point in the timeline for manufacturers and their fans.
So, in this article, we are comparing the Google Pixel and iPhone 7 on major aspects of specifications which matter to most users.

Appearance and Display

The iPhone 7 and Pixel have a very much similar appearance on the front side. The Pixel lacks the physical home button at the bottom and differs in the position of the front camera and the sensors at the top. The iPhone 7 has a thicker bezel on the sides than the Pixel. It makes the screen appear smaller than it actually is.
Both Pixel phones have a unibody design made using aluminum. On the back side, an unknown glass coating follows from the camera to a little below the fingerprint sensor. It’s the first smartphone to carry a G logo on its back.

The AMOLED stands for Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode is a recent technology than the IPS LCD. Both the technologies have their own pros and cons. But IPS LCD panels enable companies to cut manufacturing costs. Apple iPhones are an exception in the list of devices using IPS panels because such devices are often thick.

AMOLED displays generally deliver brighter colors. This is because the pixels are lit individually. The black color appears blacker on these displays as the relevant pixel on the screen can be turned off. The AMOLED display can tap their back over their fast pixel switching which is a much-needed functionality for VR application. Pixel phone are compatible with Google’s Daydream View headset.

CPU, RAM, OS

The Qualcomm top of the line Snapdragon 821 SoC powers the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. The quad-core chip has two cores clocked at 2.15 GHz and the other two @ 1.6 GHz. Both Pixel phones have 4GB RAM and take advantage of the Adreno 550 graphics GPU present on the Snapdragon 821.

In the case of Apple, the A10 Fusion chip is the horse running inside the iPhone 7 and 7Plus. The iPhone 7 has 2GB RAM while the iPhone 7 Plus has 3GB. A hexacore chip takes care of the graphics department for the iPhone 7 devices.

Both Pixel and iPhone 7 have the latest versions of their respective mobile operating systems:

Pixel/Pixel XL: Android 7.1 Nougat

iPhone 7/ 7 Plus: iOS 10.0.1

Colors and Storage

We thought that it was only Apple who released its devices in bizarre colors like ‘Jet Black’, Black, Gold, Silver, and Rose Gold. But Google followed the path with more laughable names like Quite Black, Really Blue, and Very Silver.

In the terms of storage, there are multiple options available for both Pixel and iPhone 7.

Pixel/Pixel XL: 32GB, 128GB

iPhone 7/7 Plus: 32GB, 128GB, 256GB

The Jet Black iPhone is only available in 128GB and 256GB storage options.

Camera

Pixel/Pixel XL

Rear: 12MP (f/2.0 aperture)

Front: 8MP (f/2.4 aperture)

The rear camera has dual-LED flash, HDR support, laser auto-focus, etc. It can record 2160p videos at 30 frames per second. If cut down the video resolution to 1080p, a frame rate of 120 per second can be achieved. The front camera can record video at 1080p.

Google is offering unlimited cloud space to store photos and videos shot using the Pixel phones. The photos will be saved in their original quality.

iPhone 7

Rear: 12MP (f/1.8 aperture)

Front: 7MP (f/2.2 aperture)

iPhone 7 Plus

Rear: 12MP (f/1.8 aperture) and 12MP (f/2.8 aperture)

Front: 7MP (f/2.2 aperture)

Apple iPhones are known for their high-quality cameras. The camera on the iPhone 7 is accompanied by a quad-LED flash which is an advantage over the Pixel phones. It has lower aperture enabling good photos in low light conditions. Other features include HDR support, autofocus, touch focus, etc. The rear camera can record videos at 2160p achieving 30 fps similar to Pixel.

The two cameras collaboratively work to create a 3D effect in the image. One of the lenses provides an optical zoom up to 2X and benefits the images over the digital zoom. Basically, the situation becomes similar to how human eyes work. It generates a depth map of the scene. Using all the data, the objects which are not in focus in the image can be slightly blurred to give you a shallow depth of field.

Battery Life

Pixel: 2770 mAh Lithium-ion (Non-removable)

Pixel XL: 3450 mAh Lithium-ion (Non-removable)

iPhone 7: 1960 mAh Lithium-ion (Non-removable)

iPhone 7 Plus: 2900 mAh Lithium-ion (Non-removable)

Google promises that Pixel’s fast charging feature can deliver up to 7 hours of battery life after 15 minutes of charging. The iPhone 7 doesn’t have the fast charging feature. Apple touted the new iPhone at the launch event by saying that it can run for “an extra hour” than the previous iPhone. So, people might not feel the need of the fast charging.

Voice Assistant

Siri came to the iOS devices after an Apple acquisition. The voice assistant is known for its user-friendliness and sarcastic replies. Google Assistant has made a recent debut with the Google Allo app and it has replaced Google Now on the Pixel devices. Google Assitant can grow on its maker’s huge consumer base which is not the case with Siri. Apple remains confined to its own ecosystem.

Siri can be considered more mature because it has existed for years. But newer assistants like the one from Google may take over the Apple’s chat bot. The biggest advantage for Assistant is the Google Search integration along with other products. On the other hand, Siri uses Bing for its web search. Moreover, Google Assistant is also available for the iOS.

3.5mm Analog Jack

Apple has eliminated the audio jack. They want to use their Lightning port as an interface for audio accessories. The company had to face wide criticism but there might be some explanation from their part. Apple ships a Lightning to 3.5mm connector with the iPhones.

On the other hand, the Pixel and Pixel XL have the 3.5mm audio jack. However, you can also buy a pair of USB Type-C earphones for a change.

Price

Pixel

Pixel XL

iPhone 7

iphone7 Plus

32GB

$649

$769

$649

$769

128GB

$749

$869

$749

$869

256GB

NA

NA

$849

$969

Final Words

Both the Pixel and iPhone 7 have their own positives and negatives. It appears as if Pixel might benefit from its Snapdragon 821 but some Geekbench tests put A10 Fusion chip is ahead of the 821. But it’s not the processor that can account for the overall smartphone experience. Other factors like the RAM, GPU – Snapdragon 821 has a powerful graphics chip – also put a significant effect on the performance. And above them, how the operating system utilizes the resource also plays a big role in deciding whether the phone will delight the user or not.

It’s the first attempt from Google and it would be too early to judge them. Google hasn’t come up with any out of the world device. It’s a phone with specifications and design like other phones but Google services and the G logo on the back is what makes the Pixel phone special. This was just an attempt to put the two devices in front of each other. We’ll have to wait until Pixel goes into the hands of people. It poses itself as a contender for the best Android smartphone. Hopefully, it doesn’t turn into a bomb. ?

Aman is a Computer Geek and a Nature Lover.He is pursuing Bachelor of Vocational Studies from Delhi University.He believes that Smart Work and Learning Attitude can help one to achieve something better in everyday life.

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